Lichens of Antarctica

By Zac

Lichens of Antarctica

By Zac

Lichens

Of all the plants in Antarctica lichens are the best addapted to survive in the harsh polar climate. Some lichens even have been found only about 400km from the south pole. Lichens have profilated in Antarctica because there is not much competition from other plants. A lichen is a plant formed from the symbolic association of certain fungi and usually green algae. Lichens occupy many different habitats often in extremely cold environment.

Three main types of Lichens exist in Antarctica crustose lichens, these lichens form on a thin crust on the surface of the rock of the material it grows on foliose lichens, which form like leaf lobes and fruticose lichens which have a shrubby growth habitats there is a picture at the bottom of this antarctic project